How would Jesus vote?
Today the citizens of the United States have the opportunity to choose the leader of the free world. This awesome responsibility is afforded to us by the Constitution and paid for by the brave men and women who paid the ultimate price in the service of our nation. In the words of Bill Gates, "If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you are reading this in English, thank a veteran."
As we cast our vote today, my prayer is that each of us will ask this question, how would Jesus vote if He were standing here? Many may call this presumptious to know the mind of God, however, if we read the scriptures and follow the principles that Jesus taught, we can vote in a way that is pleasing to Him.
We must also consider that we will be held accountable for the actions of the person we vote to put in office. We also will be held accountable for the party platform which we ratify by our vote. If we give power to a party platform that advocates abortion, we are responsible for the lives that are lost.
Please pray for America during this crucial time. It is not only the selection of our next President and Vice-President, but our Senators, Representatives, and local leaders as well. Our vote is a seed and we will reap the harvest in our government. Will we sow to the spirit or to the flesh? Will we reap righteousness or corruption? We the People will declare our future today. I pray that America remains the Shining City on the Hill so eloquently described in President Ronald Reagan's farewell address:
And that's about all I have to say tonight. Except for one thng. The past few days when I've been at that window upstairs, I've thought a bit of the "shining city upon a hill." The phrase comes from John Winthrop, who wrote it to describe the America he imagined. What he imagined was important because he was an early Pilgrim, an early freedom man. He journeyed here on what today we'd call a little wooden boat; and like the other Pilgrims, he was looking for a home that would be free.
I've spoken of the shining city all my political life, but I don't know if I ever quite communicated what I saw when I said it. But in my mind it was a tall proud city built on rocks stronger than oceans, wind-swept, God-blessed, and teeming with people of all kinds living in harmony and peace, a city with free ports that hummed with commerce and creativity, and if there had to be city walls, the walls had doors and the doors were open to anyone with the will and the heart to get here. That's how I saw it and see it still.
And how stands the city on this winter night? More prosperous, more secure, and happier than it was eight years ago. But more than that; after 200 years, two centuries, she still stands strong and true on the granite ridge, and her glow has held steady no matter what storm. And she's still a beacon, still a magnet for all who must have freedom, for all the pilgrims from all the lost places who are hurtling through the darkness, toward home.
We've done our part. And as I walk off into the city streets, a final word to the men and women of the Reagan revolution, the men and women across America who for eight years did the work that brought America back. My friends: We did it. We weren't just marking time. We made a difference. We made the city stronger. We made the city freer, and we left her in good hands. All in all, not bad, not bad at all.
And so, good-bye, God bless you, and God bless the United States of America.
I've spoken of the shining city all my political life, but I don't know if I ever quite communicated what I saw when I said it. But in my mind it was a tall proud city built on rocks stronger than oceans, wind-swept, God-blessed, and teeming with people of all kinds living in harmony and peace, a city with free ports that hummed with commerce and creativity, and if there had to be city walls, the walls had doors and the doors were open to anyone with the will and the heart to get here. That's how I saw it and see it still.
And how stands the city on this winter night? More prosperous, more secure, and happier than it was eight years ago. But more than that; after 200 years, two centuries, she still stands strong and true on the granite ridge, and her glow has held steady no matter what storm. And she's still a beacon, still a magnet for all who must have freedom, for all the pilgrims from all the lost places who are hurtling through the darkness, toward home.
We've done our part. And as I walk off into the city streets, a final word to the men and women of the Reagan revolution, the men and women across America who for eight years did the work that brought America back. My friends: We did it. We weren't just marking time. We made a difference. We made the city stronger. We made the city freer, and we left her in good hands. All in all, not bad, not bad at all.
And so, good-bye, God bless you, and God bless the United States of America.
My fellow Americans, may we do our part today and vote to keep America the beacon of freedom, the land of opportunity, and one nation under God. Today, let us once again consider the lessons of 9/11. On that day we were not Democrats or Republicans, we were Americans. We were united in a cause greater than oursevles. We turned to God because we knew that we didn't have the answers. We proudly displayed our flag as a symbol of freedom and honor and a united people. The naysayers said our financial systems would never recover, but we proved them wrong. America - wake up! Cast your vote for the cause of liberty and justice for all. God grant us the wisdom to choose wisely.
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